*Third person's point of view* Why is she going there? He tried to ignore her and reached out to the perfume. Rabiya dialed the number and waited for the call to be received. Dialing the same number she mumbled, "Pick up please, it's very important!" and then, she heard a voice. "Hello?" Bittersweet feelings captured her heart. While she felt happy hearing him, she also felt sad hearing the thick gloom behind it. "Hello, Shayaan bhai, why your voice is so sad?" Rabiya asked in concern. ''Rabiya? It's you? How are you?" He asked, and his voice suddenly turned into a joyful one. "Yeah it's me, bhai, and I'm perfectly fine, but why are you sounding sad? Is everything fine? Is mummy alright and is papa fine? And you" She fired a hundred questions, but Shayaan cut her off. "Rabiya, stop it!" Shayaan laughing boomed over the line. "We all are fine! I was just worried for you," he said, in total glee after hearing his sister's voice after two days. "Whose number are you calling from?" He suddenly asked. "Bhai it's his number," Rabiya murmured. "Whose number?" Shayaan asked, confused. "Maaz. It's Maaz's number," Rabiya said hesitantly and Shayaan chuckled at his sister's nervous side, which he had never seen before. "Rabiya, are y-" Rabiya suddenly cut Shayaan off as he spoke. "Bhai, listen to me carefully!" She exclaimed in all seriousness. "Hm, I'm listening," A small part of his heartfelt scared of what she was about to say. "Have you invited bhabi to my reception?" she asked. "Oh, Rabiya! You scared me with that seriousness," he sighed. "Bhai, have you invited her, or not?" she asked curiously. "Are you out of your mind? How can I invite her?" Shayaan scowled. "Shayaan bhai, I don't know anything. I want to meet my bhabhi, call her and tell her to come to the reception! I want to meet her!" She demanded just like a baby demanding candy from her elder brother. "Rabiya, try to understand. She has a family too! What will they say if she suddenly informs them that she is going to a function which is just going to start in an hour? And, what she will tell her family, whose reception is she going to?" Shayaan convinced her, amused by Rabiya's childish act. "It's not that easy," He added. "Okay bhai," She replied in an innocent, helpless, and sad voice after a sigh. She knew that her brother won't tolerate her sadness and will try his best. "Don't be sad, Rabiya." "Don't worry about me," She spoke in a soft voice. Shayaan frowned. "Okay. Don't be sad, let me see if I can do something," Shayaan said after thinking for a minute. "Bhai, I want to meet her at any cost," she repeated in the same innocent way. "Okay, but first tell me, are you happy?" Shayaan asked, his voice turning deep with concern. "Bhai, I'm happy." "Are you sure?" He asked again. "Of course, bhai! Bhai, I'll talk to you later, he is waiting for his mobile and me," She said when she turned around and saw Maaz standing near the balcony, waiting for the phone. "Okay, take care!" Shayaan said and hung up. "What a chatterbox is she! She is busy talking for the last 15 minutes, without any break," Maaz muttered as he skimmed through a magazine. Rabiya pouted as she heard him. Mr. Khadoos! What if I talked to my brother for only 15 minutes? Rabiya rolled her eyes. But whom she is talking with? Maaz asked himself. "Tha- thank you," Rabiya said and gave back the mobile. They both heard a knock on the door and Maaz stepped forward to open it. "Maaz, Rabiya, let's go. We are getting late," Umema hushed. Then she moved towards Rabiya. "Rabiya, you are looking very beautiful," Maaz ground his teeth and fisted his hands in frustration. Why is everyone rubbing salt to my injuries by reminding me that she is my wife? Maaz doubled in anger. No, she isn't my wife, his heart said with determination and he nodded. "Let's go, Maaz," Umema repeated, bringing him back from his thoughts. "Bhabi, you go, I'm coming," He replied without looking at them. Umema walked out with Rabiya, and Maaz walked to the dressing room. He opened a drawer and pulled out a box. "I brought these for you. I wanted to gift it to you at the reception. I wanted to see you wearing these," He said. His voice was sad, and his heart seemed broken. He quietly questioned the pair of anklets, as though they knew the answers. Abdullah and Raahim stood behind him, about to escort him downstairs. Their eyes widened in shock when they heard Maaz. "Maaz," Hearing Abdullah's voice, Maaz got startled. He quickly threw the box in the drawer and turned around. "Bhai! You here!" Maaz stammered. "Yeah, me," Abdullah simply replied. "Maaz, Rabiya is your wife now. You have to admit it, you have to forget about your past. Try to concentrate on the future." "Bhai, what do you think, is it so easy? Is it easy to forget each moment we spent together, is it easy to forget the promises which I made with her?" Maaz angrily questioned Abdullah, while Raahim stood behind him. "And what about the promise which you made to Rabiya?'' Abdullah calmly asked, and Maaz raised his eyebrow in confusion. "What promise? I haven't made any promise with Rabiya," Maaz asked. "Nikah is the biggest promise. These are not only three words, but promises that you will love her, protect her from every difficult situation, you will horse up to all the responsibilities." "Bhai, but-" "Maaz, do you know, when does a girl agree for Nikah?" Abdullah asked, placing a hand on Maaz's shoulder. Maaz shakes his head in denial. "When she believes in that man. When she believes that he can make her happy and be safe with him. And Rabiya believes you, even without knowing you. Now, you have to prove her correct with her decision." Bhai, what are you saying? I'm not getting anything, Maaz's heart said, but one thing continuously echoed in her head. Nikkah is the biggest promise. A girl agrees with her Nikah when she believes in the man when she and believes he can make her happy and safe with him. *** Rabiya and Maaz sat on the huge golden and white sofa, maintaining some difference between them. Their pair was looking adorable. Waqaar and Asma felt pride thumping in their chests looking at them. The guests had started arriving. Rabiya was waiting for her family and a huge smile made its way on her lips when she finally saw them. Shayaan was the first who stepped up to the stage with long steps and hugged his little sister. "How is my doll? I missed you so much!" Shayaan said while breaking the hug. "Bhai, I made a demand on the call, what about that?" Rabiya didn't pay attention to Shayaan, instead, she behaved like a kid in front of her brother. Oh, so she was talking to her brother, Maaz realized when he listened to their conversation. "She is out of town, because of a project," Shayaan whispered in her ear. "Really?" Rabiya whisper-yelled, but when she realized where she was, she lowered her gaze in embarrassment. Is she mad, yelling on and about? Silly girl, Maaz told himself, and mentally rolled his eyes. "Rabiya start behaving like a mature girl, at least," Shayaan told her with widened eyes and she smiled. "Didn't you know about her tour?" Rabiya asked and Shayaan nodded his head. "I forgot about it. I was worried about you. When I invited her, she reminded me of the tour. But she congratulated you," Shayaan informed her. "Shayaan bhai, don't worry for me," Rabiya said happily. "Are you happy?" Shayaan asked. It was the only thing that kept popping in his head ever since Rabiya's farewell. "Yeah bhai, I'm happy," She said slowly but Maaz listened, as his attention was captured by the siblings. What? Is she happy? But how? What did she get, that she's happy? Maaz asked himself. She is lying to her family, he realized. "How are you, Maaz?" Shayaan asked him when his sister finally got her paws off him. "I'm fine," masking a smile, he replied. At that moment, Shayaan's phone started ringing, and a smile played on his lips after looking at the caller ID. "Your bhabhi's call. She wants to talk to you," Shayaan handed his phone to Rabiya, who wanted to jump on the sofa, only if she weren't the bride. Is he engaged? Maaz thought, unbeknownst to the chemistry. "I want to talk to my bhabi too! Shayaan bhai, you're the best!" Rabiya said in excitement. "Hello!" Rabiya chirped. "Congratulations Rabi-" "Whom you talking with, Rabiya?" Tabassum asked. "Bhabi!" Rabiya said without thinking. Shayaan felt as though someone had snatched the earth from below his feet. "Who bhabi?" Tabassum asked So her mother doesn't know about her bhabi, something is fishy, Maaz wise mind thought. "I was talking to Afiya, so her bhabi took the phone to congratulate me," Rabiya cleverly masked the situation and Tabassum simply nodded. Shayaan sighed in relief. "Mummy do you want to talk to bhabi?" Rabiya asked her mother and Shayaan glared at her with wide eyes. ''What are you doing Rabiya?'' Shayaan whispered and continued glaring. "Rabiya, talk to her later, at this time sit quietly, you are the bride!" Tabassum instructed Rabiya and she returned Shayaan's mobile. The function was going on, and everyone blessed the newly wedded, but Maaz was heartbroken. Rabiya sat with a low gaze, like her mother instructed. "Congratulations, Rabiya!" "Inshu!" Rabiya exclaimed, excited to see her best friend. Both of them hugged each other. "Rabiya, grand function, decorated with red and yellow tulips, your dreams came true, huh?" Insha whispered in Rabiya's ear, who smiled. "Hello bhai! I'm Insha, Rabiya's best friend!" Insha happily introduced herself. Maaz narrowed his eyes at Rabiya, and sprinted downstage, not even giving back a glance. "Rabiya, what was that?" Insha asked, confused on seeing Maaz’s cold behavior. "Let him go to hell! Mr. Khadoos!" Rabiya mumbled, glaring at his back. "Shayaan bhai informed me about the marriage, but isn't he good with you?" Insha asked. "I don't know Inshu what to say about this,” Rabiya said neutrally. “But everything will be fine, don't worry," she added lightheartedly Insha was shocked on her childish behavior regarding such a big matter. "Don't you even have any problem with your husband's behavior? Idiot!'' Insha lightly smacked Rabiya’s head. All went well wih the function, yet one thing was left. THE BRIDE-GROOM’S PHOTO SESSION. *** "Sir, ma'am, look at each other," the photographer instructed the bride-groom, who sat keeping a safe distance. Now, what the hell is this? I don't want to look at her, Maaz's heart yelled. But both of them reluctantly obeyed the photographer. "Smile, please!" Maaz was furious. How could he smile? He didn’t smile at all. "Sir, ma'am, sit closer," Rabiya gulped as she crept a little closer, and so did Maaz, rather angrily. "Sir, hold her hand." Where I am stuck? Maaz mentally cursed the photographer. But, when he held Rabiya's hand, she felt her heart beating at full speed, her hands felt ice cold, while her cheeks crimson red. "Ma'am, look at him." What's your problem, man? I'm angry with him. I don't want to look at him. Rabiya reluctantly looked towards him. "Smile, please!" the photographer demanded. Now, SMILE! I'm stuck here, in a place full of idiots! Maaz remained stubborn and didn’t smile. Smile + Mr. Khadoos, impossible! Rabiya rolled her eyes. "Please stand facing each other." Kya hai, yaar?! Rabiya had gotten irritated with the photographers now. On the photographer’s demand, both stood, still at an arm’s distance. (What’s this, man?!) "Please... come... closer," the photographer sighed. He was tired instructing each and every thing to them. Damn you! Go to hell! Maaz ground his teeth, cursing the photographer. "Hold hands, and look into each other's eyes." “What a drama,” Maaz mumbled, and held Rabiya's hand expressionlessly. "I'm tired as well," Rabiya replied after a sigh, without even thinking for once. Maaz smiled as he realized what she was talking about. Holding hand in hand, Maaz and Rabiya stood closer with a smile on their faces, looking at one another. "Both look amazing together!" Asma chirped to Tabassum and everyone happily nodded. "Sir, hold her from the waist, and ma'am, place your hands on his chest.” "What?!" Rabiya exclaimed, and looked at Maaz in surprise. Both of them hesitantly took two steps back. "It's more than enough now," Maaz babbled, while Rabiya nodded, tapping her feet. "His demands are increasing, one by one!" Rabiya mumbled angrily in a childish way, as Maaz listened, then nodded in agreement. "It's enough. Finish it off now," Maaz instructed the photographer and stepped off the stage.